Hiking Trails on Marion Creek

The gravel road that leads to the trailhead of the Gooch Creek Hiking Trail in the Willamette National Forest can be accessed not far from Detroit Lake on the Santiam Pass in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon. The road for the trailhead is marked by a sign on Hwy 22, the Santiam Pass.

One summer I thought to finally make the hike to Marion Falls, following a gravel road a few miles to the trailhead. It was late in summer, though, and the road had deteriorated somewhat with the washboard effect, and I wasn't sure how great the waterfall would be given the lateness of the season. I turned back not long after I stopped to take this photograph, deciding to wait for spring and better conditions all around. Instead, we went on to the wild and scenic McKenzie and hiked the Waterfalls Loop Trail - a wonderful excursion to be long remembered. :-)

Sadly, I have yet to make it back on the Santiam Pass at the right time of year to make the hike.

Forward ~ Mt Washington in late spring, still cloaked in snow, viewed from the Over the River and through the Wood Scenic Byway.

Back ~ The North Santiam River on the West Cascades National Scenic Byway.

While you're out and about you might want to extend your visit and ...

Discover the splendor of the McKenzie Pass - Santiam Pass Oregon Scenic Byway, Hwy 242: Directions to hiking trails. The Scenic Byway can be accessed either in Sisters, Oregon or from Hwy 126, the McKenzie Pass. Find the turnoff two miles east of the Ranger Station for the Willamette National Forest. Sites to see.

If you're heading east on the McKenzie Pass, Oregon Hwy 126, of the West Cascades National Scenic Byway, you may want to make a loop from the McKenzie Pass, Oregon Hwy 126, and connect with the Over the River and through the Woods Oregon Scenic Byway, Oregon Hwy 20. The sign for Hwy 20 is clearly marked from Hwy 126. If you see the sign for Belknap Hot Springs, you've gone too far. Take the cutoff for Hwy 20, the Over the River and through the Woods Scenic Byway and find the graceful South Santiam River, lovely campgrounds and Hiking Trails to wildflowers, amongst old growth forests, in both the old and high Cascades of the Willamette National Forest: Directions to and Descriptions of Trails and Campgrounds.

The West Cascades National Scenic Byway provides easy access to the Three Sisters Wilderness, the Mt Jefferson Wilderness and the Mt Washington Wilderness, all located in the Willamette National Forest.

You may want to extend the West Cascades National Scenic Byway Tour to include the Willamette Pass in the Cascade Mountains: Travel Directions, Map and Scenery and the Crescent Lake, Oakridge "Inback" Tour: Travel Directions and Map.

Travel Oregon and northern California while staying at Gathering Light ... a retreatlocated in southern Oregon near Crater Lake National Park.